updated 09:50 am EDT, Thu May 1, 2008

Garmin nuvifone Price Leak

Garmin's highly touted nuvifone may cost $100 more than its Apple rival at AT&T, according to a survey passed along to Engadget. The navigation device maker is gauging customer responses to its price strategy and is currently suggesting that its GPS-enabled cellphone should sell for $500 with a two-year contract, or $100 above the price of a standard iPhone.

In exchange, the device may also have a relatively affordable data service, Garmin explains in its poll. A $20 monthly plan beyond voice would include both unlimited 3G Internet access as well as an unlimited mapping service for the GPS receiver. The service would significantly extend the reach of AT&T's data services, which are already priced at $20 for most non-smartphone devices but often charge extra for map service through AT&T Navigator (TeleNav).

Features of the phone have remained the same since its initial unveiling in January, and include both the 3G and GPS features as well as a 3-megapixel camera, Wi-Fi, and media player software. Garmin still plans to launch the nuvifone in the summer and is expected to start with AT&T, expanding to Europe and other areas in the future.

Apple itself is rumored to be building GPS into the iPhone for its 3G incarnation, which many analysts and rumors say will appear in June.

not surprising

I suspect that the big expense for Garmin is the fee to license the maps, which is probably pretty hefty. It make sense, though: just think of the amount of effort it takes for NAVTEQ to keep its maps up-to-date with all the constant construction going on.

Pay?

I have the blackberry 8800 with the data package from AT&T. Telenav is extra (at some crazy amount of money), but I just use google maps. It's a free download, and although it doesnt speak the directions out to me, it uses my GPS to get my position to within 3 meters, and updates every 2 seconds or so. I'm quite satisfied with it.
The question is whether there will be a google application for this phone.